Parking aid

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a device for positioning a moving vehicle in a parking space of limited size. The device is suspended from an overhead support, and comprises in combination a plumb line extending downwardly to a level slightly above the heighth of the moving vehicle and a second line having attached at the lower end a brusher which barely touches the surface of the vehicle when the vehicle passes beneath the brusher, and moves forward as the vehicle is advanced into position.

United States Patent 191 Sparks 1 Feb. 26, 1974 PARKING AID [76] Inventor: Meredith P. Sparks, 5129 Granada,

Coral Gables, Fla. 33146 [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 291,554

[52] US. c|....'. 116/28 R [51] Int. Cl. B60q [58] Field of Search 116/28, 114; 33/392, 393

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,874,057 8/1932 Murphy 33/392 2,381,698 8/1945 Sireci 2,854,942 10/1958 Ross 116/28 R Primary Examiner-Louis J. Capozi [5 7] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a device for positioning a moving vehicle in a parking space of limited size. The device is suspended from an overhead support, and comprises in combination a plumb line extending downwardly to a level slightly above the heighth of the moving vehicle and a second line having attached at the lower end a brusher which barely touches the surface of the vehicle when the vehicle passes beneath the brusher, and moves forward as the vehicle is advanced into position.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures V////////////////////////////////////////////fl/fl/,

PARKING AID This invention relates to a device useful in positioning a car or other moving vehicle in a parking space of limited size. More particularly, it relates to a device which can be suspended from an overhead support, and comprises the combination of a plumb line fastened at the upper end to a predetermined position on a support, and having a pointer attached at the lower end, the pointer having sufficient weight to hold the line in position and the line extending downwardly to a level slightly above the heighth of the moving vehicle; and a second line extending downwardly from the same position on the support, having attached at the lower end a light weight object or brusher which barely touches the surface of the moving vehicle when it passes beneath the brusher, and moves forward as the moving vehicle is advanced into position.

Many homes are provided with attached garages which often are used also for storage purposes, leaving barely sufficient room for the car to be driven in without bumping the front or side walls of the garage, or other objects stored in the garage. The driver often finds difficulty in judging the distance of the bumpers of the car to the front wall of the garage, or in centering the car with respect to the side walls or available space. This may result in bumping the garage wall or other objects, and in damaging the fenders or bumper of the car, as well as the walls of the garage, or objects hit by the car. It is well known that costly damage can result to a car when the driver is barely. aware of'the'contact and before the driver can rectify the situation. When the space is barely large enough to fit the car greater precision is required than is possible by bare visual judgment, and especially if the enclosed space is poorly lighted.

Although this invention is described particularly with reference to a car, it is useful also for any other moving vehicle such as a boat, motorcycle, aircraft in storage, farm equipment, road machinery and the like.

The plumb at the end of the plumb line locates the position of the vehicle, preferably the center of the car hood when the car is parked in the desired position. Of course, the device can be located with respect to any other part of the vehicle, if desired. Unless the car is stopped precisely when the light weight object first touches the vehicle the light weight object, conveniently called a brusher, will be moved forward when the vehicle is advanced into position at least some of the distance the vehicle moves. But the plumb line will stay in position showing where the vehicle should be positioned. By observing the distance the brusher moves from the plumb on the plumb line, the driver of the vehicle can determine approximately how far he has traveled beyond the position. He can also observe whether the brusher is to the right or left of the preferred position. Many cars have a center strip on the hood which can be aligned with the plumb line as the car moves forward. Other cars have an ornamental object positioned at the center front of the hood which will aid in aligning.

A fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device with the plumb line and the brusher line at rest.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device with a car positioned in place, the hood of the car being engaged with the brusher.

F IG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of one type of a plumb useful in this invention. The plumb will have sufficient weight that the plumb line 1 will be kept somewhat taunt.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of one type of a spherical brusher useful in this invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, plumb line 1 is attached at the lower end to an object, plumb 3, and brusher line 2 is attached at the lower end to brusher 4. Both lines are at rest prior to the time the vehicle is driven into the parking space. The plumb line 1 and brusher line 2 are suspended at a position 5 on a support 6. The device indicates the preferred position for the center front (or other chosen part) of the car when the car is in place. The plumb will be just above the car and the brusher will touch the car. The plumb will have weight sufficient to hold the line somewhat taut in the desired position.

FIG.2 shows the plumb line 1 and the brusher line 2 when a car has been driven past the preferred position. The distance from point 7 at the lower end of the plumb to point 8 at the upper end of the brusher indicates approximately the distance which the car has moved past the preferred position. Conviently, points 7 and 8 come together when the device is at rest. The distance of points 7 and 8 from the center line (or other chosen part) of the car also indicates whether the car is to the right or left of the preferred position.

FIG. 3 shows the plumb 3 in the shape of an inverted pyramid.

FIG. 4 shows the brusher 4 in the shape of a sphere.

In preferred embodiments of my invention the plumb at the end of the plumb line is in the shape of a body which comes to a point at the lower end. Thus the plumb is referred to as a pointer. It may be solid or hollow, but of sufficient weight to hold the line somewhat taut. The material may be metal or any other substance, such as plastic, which has the requisite weight. The plumb can have triangular sides which meet in a point at the lower end so as to form an inverted pyramid, or the lower end may form an inverted cone.

The light weight object on the second line can be made of any light weight material such as paper, cloth, fiber or plastic, and have any suitable shape. In a preferred embodiment of my invention the outside is spherical in shape and the outside area convoluted. Strips of paper or soft bristles could also be used, However, the material must be sufficiently soft that it will not scratch the surface or mar the finish of the vehicle with which it comes in contact. For convenience this object is referred to as a brusher". The brusher may also contain, or be connected to or associated with a sound producing means or a lighting means so as to give further notice when it is moved out of position. For example, movement of the line out of position by the forward motion of the car may be evidenced by a rattle or chimes; or the movement can activate an electrical circuit so as to produce light or sound.

Both the plumb and the brusher are attractive in shape and design. They can be coated with an irridescent material to make them more plainly visible, or glow in the dark.

Various modifications and variations of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit of the discovery or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A measuring device for ascertaining the position of a moving vehicle from the drivers location in a vehicle which has come to rest in a parking space of limited size, comprising the combination of a. a plumb line fastened at the upper end to a predetermined positached at the lower end,

said object extending downwardly from said support to a level such that the light weight object barely engages the surface of the hood of said moving vehicle as it passes beneath said light weight object, and moves forward with the vehicle,

wherein the displaced position of said light weight object defines with respect to said weighted object a distance of forward movement which is visually discernable from the drivers location, whereby a vehicle may be quickly and safely brought to rest at the predetermined position with respect to sides, and forward and rear limits of said parking space.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said weighted object defines a pointer at the lower end.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said weighted object has triangular sides which meet in a point at the lower end.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said weighted object defines a cone at the lower end.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said light weight object has a spherical surface. I 

1. A measuring device for ascertaining the position of a moving vehicle from the driver''s location in a vehicle which has come to rest in a parking space of limited size, comprising the combination of a. a plumb line fastened at the upper eNd to a predetermined position on a support, and having a weighted object attached at the lower end of said line, said plumb line extending downwardly from said support to a level slightly above the hood of said vehicle; wherein the position of said weighted object relative to a selected point on the vehicle hood defines a desired point for optimum position of the vehicle at rest with respect to the sides of the parking space, and b. a second line fastened at said same position on the support as the plumb line, and having a light weight object attached at the lower end, said object extending downwardly from said support to a level such that the light weight object barely engages the surface of the hood of said moving vehicle as it passes beneath said light weight object, and moves forward with the vehicle, wherein the displaced position of said light weight object defines with respect to said weighted object a distance of forward movement which is visually discernable from the driver''s location, whereby a vehicle may be quickly and safely brought to rest at the predetermined position with respect to sides, and forward and rear limits of said parking space.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said weighted object defines a pointer at the lower end.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein said weighted object has triangular sides which meet in a point at the lower end.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said weighted object defines a cone at the lower end.
 5. The device of claim 1 wherein said light weight object has a spherical surface. 